Envelope construction



Feb. 24, A1970 B. L. HENRY ENVELOPE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb.'12, 196e 8 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1970 y' BQL.' HENRY 3,497,132

v ENVELOPE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 12. 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 B. L. HENRYv ENvELoPE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 12. 1968 i 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 24, 1970 B. L. HENRY 3,497,132

ENVELOPE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 12, 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 24, 1970 B. L. HENRY n 3,497,132

ENVELOPE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 12, le a sheets-sheet 6 i 63 l ,f64 72 66 f 70 It' 60 l III! 74/ 62 h, lul.. 73

Feb. 24, 1970 r| HENRY' 3,497,132

ENVELPE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 12, 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Feb. 24, 1970 B. L. HENRY '3,497,132

ENVELOPE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 12. 1968 f 8 vSheets-Sheet 8 ,Hull l IIa/o A120261:

United States Patent O 3,497,132 ENVELOPE CONSTRUCTION Beulah Louis Henry, New York, N Y., assigner to Jonue Low De Lara, New Canaan, Conn. Filed Feb. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 704,612 Int. Cl. B65d 27/10 U.S. Cl. 229-73 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The application discloses various embodiments of single mailing envelopes which have been formed from a chain of blanks and which can be continuously passed through an addressing machine, or alternatively in a different form through a typewriter for addressing. After addressing, the formed envelopes are separated on a tear line which intersects a single strip of gum seal, the portion of the gum seal above the tear line serving as a bottom seal for one envelope in the chain and the portion of the gum seal below the tear line being located on the top ilap of a succeeding envelope available for sealing after the envelope has been stuffed. Two seals are thus afforded yby a single gum application. Also disclosed is a uniquely formed two way envelope which can be constructed from a chain of envelope blanks which also are connected together on a tear line contained Wholly within a single gum seal strip thus similarly affording two sealing flaps, one of said flaps being detachable to form a return envelope and at the same time a bottom seal in the envelope chain prior to addressing and separation.

This invention relates to envelope construction comprising a plurality of connected envelopes formed from a single, integrated blank and adapted for use either as a conventional, one way envelope, or as a two way or send and return envelope.

In accordance with the invention, the envelope may assume a variety of forms, each of the forms being constructed from a continuous chain of blanks. Regardless of the type of envelope derived from the single stock, the seal for at least two flaps is formed by means of a single gum strip. The single strip is applied to an area of the blank which is used in part to form one ap for one envelope in the chain and in part to form a second flap for an adjacent envelope formed from the blanks in the chain. The gumming operation in envelope production involves an important element of its cost and the advantage of eliminating on such operation both in terms of economy and simplicity of construction may be appreciated. The two sealing flaps thus formed from one run of the gum applicator constitute separate closures for two envelopes which are then sealed for mailing after separation from the chain of blanks or separate top closure aps for the same envelope where the latter is formed as a two way envelope. Whether the envelope is of the two way kind or not the chain of envelopes can be made to pass through automatic addressing machines or in a different embodiment through a typewriter which is then used for address purposes before the envelopes are separated from the chain for stuffing and mailing.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved form of continuous envelope blanks.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved two way envelope of relatively simplied construction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved two way envelope especially adapted to be made from a chain of separate but integrated blanks.

One advantage of the improved continuous envelope construction is that the envelopes are easily stuffed after ice their completion while in the continuously connected state.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be appreciated on reading the following detailed description of several of its embodiments which are taken in con junction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary View in elevation showing a chain of continuous envelope blanks;

FIG. 2 is a rear View showing the partially completed envelope shown open in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the continuous envelope adapted to travel through an automatic addressing rnachine;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a Section taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective showing an envelope unsealed at the top and separated from the frame employed to carry the continuous envelope through the addressing machine;

FIG. 7 is a perspective of the separated and sealed en velope;

FIG. 8 shows a chain of continuous envelope blanks of unodiiied construction prior to folding and sealing;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a continuous chain of envelopes of modified construction after being partially formed;

FIG. 10 shows .a front view of the continuous envelopes shown in FIG. 9 adapted to pass through an automatic addressing machine;

FIG. 11 shows a chain of continuous envelopes of modified construction in unformed condition;

FIG. 12 shows a rear view of partially formed continuous envelopes shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a front view of partially formed and separated continuous envelopes shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is |a section taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 shows a chain of continuous envelopes of moded construction in unformed state;

FIG. 16 is a rear view of the envelopes shown in FIG. 15 having been partially formed;

FIG. 17 is a front view of the envelopes shown in FIG. 15 partially separated;

FIG. 18 is .a section taken on line 18--18 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a view showing a chain of unformed continuous envelopes for two way use;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a partially formed two way envelope separated from the chain;

FIG. 21 is a rear perspective view of the two way envelope ready for initial sending;

FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of the two way envelope ready for initial sending;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the two way envelope being converted into a return envelope;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the two way envelope in return form;

FIG. 25 is a section taken on the line 25-25 of FIG. 22;

FIG. 26 is a section taken on the line 26-26 of FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a view showing a modied embodiment of unformed continuous envelopes for two way use;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the modified and partially formed and wholly two way envelope;

- FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the modified two way envelope ready to send;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the modified two way envelope ready to return;

FIG. 31 is a section taken on the line 31-31 0f FIG. 29; and

FIG. 32 is a section taken on the line 32-32 of FIG. 30.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a chain of unformed continuous envelopes 32. Rear panels 34 are disposed within marginal and perforated frame carriers 36 and'38 and -`front panels 40 are intermediate perforated frame carriers 4x2' and 44', the panels being connected on fold line f. The panels are detachable from the frame carriers on perforated line p, the carriers being merely marginal extensions, eXteriorly of the score lines p, of their respective envelope, front and rear'panels which areidentitied above.

Gum seals'S, S', S", S' are provided along each marginal edge of the rear panel; Perforated line p'bise'cts the lower gum seal S, which is used initially to hold together the chain of continuous envelopes. The front panelsA 40 are folded over the rear panels as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 and the sidev edges are sealed inwardly ofapertured frame carriers 36 and 38 and the bottom edges of the panels are sealed on the upper half of guru strips S. The panels are torn from the frame carriers on tear line p and adjacent rear panels are torn apart on tear line p and the envelopes are separated as shown in-FIG. 6. The lower yhalf of the gum strips S then serves as a flap to seal the envelope after stutling. Prior to separation, it is contemplated that the envelopes will have been addressed by an automatic addressing machine being caused to travel thence through for that purpose by means of the frame carriers.

In the modied embodiment of continuous envelope shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG10 the rear panels consist of two parts 42 and 44, each envelope having an additional gum seal 45 for seals, together with the overlapping parts as shown in FIG. 9.

The form of continuous envelope shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 is intended for addressing by conventional typewriter. However, the frame carriers are eliminated. As shown, the rear panel is again in two over-lapping parts 46 and 48, and end portion of part 46 having a gum seal 50. In the typewriter version of the continuous envelope seals S and S" are eliminated.

In the modified typewriter version of continuous envelope shown in FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the parts 52 and 54 forming the rear panel are of equal length, the seal 56 for the rear panel being applied to the end portion of part 54.

The continuous envelopes disclosed in FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 are used as two way envelopes. Mail out front panel 60 is joined to mail return front panel 62 on fold line 64. The panel 60 is joined to mail return top ap 66 having a gum seal 68 and mail out top flaps 70 having a gum seal 72 is joined to panel 62 on perforated line 74. The envelopes are separated by tearing along tear line t intersecting the gum seals 68, the line t and tear line t" intersecting the gum seals S". The upper half of gum seal S is employed to effect a seal between bottom ap 76, which `bears the send address, and the panel 62 and extension member 78 as shown in FIG. 20. The lower half of the gum seal i s seal 72 which is under "initially mailed. The gum seal 80 applied to the free edge of panel seals the end portion of the rear and front panels of envelope. When the envelope is first mailed out the top flap is folded over the panel 60, and when the envelope is returned, thel flap 70 is torn off on line 74 and the flap 66 is folded over the panel 62 to serve thereby as the return flap for the two way envelope.

In FIGS. 27, 28, 29 and 30 a modied two way envelope is shown which employs a separator 76 which bears the senders address for the return mailing. The address is concealed by the senders invoice or the like during the first mailing of the envelope. No address appears on the bottom ilap of each blank. Otherwise the two forms of two way envelope blanks are identical.

Various other modifications of the invention may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and principle of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

' Whatfis claimed is:

1. In a two-way envelope blank a front panel joined to a back panel on a center fold line, each panel having a top flap adapted to fold over the other panel, a gum seal on each flap, and located substantially equidistant from the fold line of each flap, one of said top llaps being located on one side of said center fold line and the other of said top aps being on the other side of said center fold line, one only of said flaps being detachably secured to its panel for removal on converting the envelope to a return envelope, gum seal being applied to a side edge of one panel, the other panel having a side extension member for side edge sealing to said one panel, said one panel having a gum seal applied to its lower edge and said other panel having a bottom ap adapted to receive address data.

2. In a two-way envelope blank as defined in claim 1 in which a separator is integrally connected to said side extension member and is adapted to receive address data.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,823,362 9/1931 Jenrich 229-73 3,111,257 11/1963 Peach 229--73 2,610,784 9/1952 Henry 229-69 2,722,369 11/ 1955 Reuter 229-69 2,895,534 7/1959 Steidinger 229-69 2,969,003 1/1961 Rapp 93-63 2,299,751 10/ 1942 Huffman.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner USe C1t XfR.- 229-69 

